GPS thing.

The Northern Monkey

I've noticed that there is a lot of more natural riding by me (bridleways etc) and want to explore, but not without something that tells me where to go.

So I want a gps thingy so I can make a route on get-a-map, export it as a gpx file and then follow it.

But, I have never used a gps thing on the bike and don't know whats best, what I need or why I need what!

I've looked at a few, but from what I can tell, they just log where you've been... not show you where to go so I'm confused about what does what!

I've seen the Garmin Dakota 20 for around £140, but only has a base map? not sure what that means..

Anyone help me out? I'm so lost.

bails87

You can put free maps (from talkytoaster among others) on some garmin devices. I've got them on my edge 800 which I use for the same thing as what you want to do.

Edit: more info on the edge 800 and the maps
viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12864380&p=17732138&hilit=edge#p17732138
viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12879681&p=17882820&hilit=edge#p17882820
viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12879391&p=17882813&hilit=edge#p17882813

thistle_

I plan my route beforehand using paper maps and prefer using a GPS just to check my position every now and then to make sure I'm on the right path.
I keep my phone in my bag/pocket and use an app called Maverick for checking where I am. It shows your position on OS maps and will cache the map so you don't need an internet connection to view it.

Briggo

The Northern Monkey wrote:

I'm so lost.

You need a GPS device.

b_real

If you have a smartphone check out the Viewranger app. You can plan routes and download ordinance survey maps files for offline use.

The Northern Monkey

just planned a map and then been onto google maps to see where its taken me...

are some of the bridleways a bit 'sketchy'... as in, not really there unless you make them there?
One of the ones near me apparently goes directly through an old quarry, so I assume I would just make my own way across it?

And then, some routes seem to go through the middle of farmers fields or through farm yards etc... are the bridleways definetely rights of way? seems a bit dodgy to me lol

jimothy78

The Northern Monkey wrote:

are some of the bridleways a bit 'sketchy'... as in, not really there unless you make them there?

Usually, genuine public bridleways are very obvious - they tend to attract such high volumes of horses, bikes and walkers that you can't miss them. Footpaths on the otherhand are commoner and hence can vary from very popular to hardly used and can easily get overgrown. Round here I've found there tends to be a lack of bridleways compared with other parts I've lived in/visited over the years, and a lot of those that do exist require a fair bit of tarmac to link them together.

One of the ones near me apparently goes directly through an old quarry, so I assume I would just make my own way across it?

In the Morganstown quarry (for example), the footpath takes you between two areas of now disused quarry, but even so it's fenced to stop you straying into areas that are either potentially dangerous or still in use.

And then, some routes seem to go through the middle of farmers fields or through farm yards etc... are the bridleways definetely rights of way? seems a bit dodgy to me lol

If they're shown as pink on 1:50000 or green on 1:25000 OS maps then they're legit. There should be gates in fences if it's a bridleway, but may be stiles if just a footpath. A lot of public rights of way cross private land, but they're still perfectly legit, and should be signed and maintained. Check that you're following the long-dashed lines on the maps, not the shorter-dashed ones and you shouldn't have too many problems.

The Northern Monkey

Cool thanks

I'm looking to get up to Garth Hill/hill from mine using as many bridleways as possible, seems doable!

And yup, it was Morganstown Quarry... can't really see the way on google.

A lot of the routes on getamap seem to be bridleways covering the same route as footpaths though.
EG: http://goo.gl/maps/6kvaX

So I don't know if it is open to MTB use.

camerauk

Looks like a footpath to me
Have a look on bikehike.co.uk and the red dotted lines are footpaths and the long dashes black lines are the bridleways
I use bikehike and have not had any problems with plotting routes and using them on my garmin 800 with the Discoverer 1:50k Maps

sorry also the long dashed red lines are also bridleways

jimothy78

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Cool thanks
I'm looking to get up to Garth Hill/hill from mine using as many bridleways as possible, seems doable! And yup, it was Morganstown Quarry... can't really see the way on google.

A lot of the paths in the area are definitely footpaths rather than bridleways. Like I said earlier, if you want a strictly "kosher" route you'll end up linking it together with lots of tarmac. However, if you take the footpath up the side of morganstown allotments the route through the woods and quarry is very obvious and doesn't involve any stiles (although there are a handful of rough-cut steps at the top of the path just before it goes across the quarry, but you can push your bike up the side of those). Out of interest, where are you starting from?

A lot of the routes on getamap seem to be bridleways covering the same route as footpaths though.
EG: http://goo.gl/maps/6kvaX

That link just show a streetview image of a stile - not sure if that's what you intended? It's worth remembering that public footpaths sometimes share the same routes as permissive bridleways (ie you are permitted to ride it but don't have a legally protected right to do so) so maps may show one or the other when both apply.

The Northern Monkey

jimothy78 wrote:

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Cool thanks
I'm looking to get up to Garth Hill/hill from mine using as many bridleways as possible, seems doable! And yup, it was Morganstown Quarry... can't really see the way on google.

A lot of the paths in the area are definitely footpaths rather than bridleways. Like I said earlier, if you want a strictly "kosher" route you'll end up linking it together with lots of tarmac. However, if you take the footpath up the side of morganstown allotments the route through the woods and quarry is very obvious and doesn't involve any stiles (although there are a handful of rough-cut steps at the top of the path just before it goes across the quarry, but you can push your bike up the side of those). Out of interest, where are you starting from?

A lot of the routes on getamap seem to be bridleways covering the same route as footpaths though.
EG: http://goo.gl/maps/6kvaX

That link just show a streetview image of a stile - not sure if that's what you intended? It's worth remembering that public footpaths sometimes share the same routes as permissive bridleways (ie you are permitted to ride it but don't have a legally protected right to do so) so maps may show one or the other when both apply.

Starting from around Radyr way

Yeah, sorry the picture of the stile was the intention. According to OS mapping its a bridleway, but it doesn't look like it to me!
I found another one that was clearly a bridleway through a farm, but the farm has a mahhooooosive sign on the fence saying 'trespassers will be prosecuted'!

Hmm.. I might save my money on the GPS, looks like I'd be better of finding the Taff Trail and riding that

The Northern Monkey

camerauk wrote:

Looks like a footpath to me
Have a look on bikehike.co.uk and the red dotted lines are footpaths and the long dashes black lines are the bridleways
I use bikehike and have not had any problems with plotting routes and using them on my garmin 800 with the Discoverer 1:50k Maps

sorry also the long dashed red lines are also bridleways

Only using OS maps, so a bridleway is a long green dash.

camerauk

The Northern Monkey wrote:

camerauk wrote:

Looks like a footpath to me
Have a look on bikehike.co.uk and the red dotted lines are footpaths and the long dashes black lines are the bridleways
I use bikehike and have not had any problems with plotting routes and using them on my garmin 800 with the Discoverer 1:50k Maps

sorry also the long dashed red lines are also bridleways

Only using OS maps, so a bridleway is a long green dash.

bridleways are normally long dashed red lines on 50:0 scale

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsi ... legend.pdf

or long dashed green lines on 25:0 scale

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsi ... legend.pdf

hope that helps

jimothy78

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Yeah, sorry the picture of the stile was the intention. According to OS mapping its a bridleway, but it doesn't look like it to me!

Nope, I found the same spot on the OS map and the path that crosses the field is a footpath (short lines) not a bridleway. If you avoid crossing the field, and just follow the lane over the
motorway, it will take you to pentyrch anyway, and from there you can get up onto the Garth very easily.

I found another one that was clearly a bridleway through a farm, but the farm has a mahhooooosive sign on the fence saying 'trespassers will be prosecuted'!

It's not uncommon to find these sort of signs near perfectly legitimate rights of way - a lot of landowners resent having to allow people access to their land and try to initimidate you into finding another route. Some will go even further - removing stiles, tying up gates, etc so you have to be pretty bloody mided sometimes. My folks were members of several ramblers groups and worked as volunteer rangers for the Southdowns and regularly had to physically restore routes that people had tried to obliterate.

TheNorthernTrain

We had a neighbour who built their garden over a right of way (footpath) and then got shirty when people used the footpath, they often let the hedge overgrow the "lopsided" sign, have a feeling it may have been pushed back. Anyway. I didn't like them so made a point of walking through it everyday on my way home and into the field that backed onto my house.

Sucks to be them. If it's a legal right of way, use it. I know it's someone's livelihood, but you gotta be ruthless and be prepared for confrontation sometimes.

Briggo

The Northern Monkey wrote:

camerauk wrote:

Looks like a footpath to me
Have a look on bikehike.co.uk and the red dotted lines are footpaths and the long dashes black lines are the bridleways
I use bikehike and have not had any problems with plotting routes and using them on my garmin 800 with the Discoverer 1:50k Maps

sorry also the long dashed red lines are also bridleways

Only using OS maps, so a bridleway is a long green dash.

OS map = ordnance survey map, which are the garmin discoverer maps.

Unless you mean open street which the acronym is OSM